In the beginning, he was ranked alongside An Shigeng as a spoiled brat.

If you cannot overcome this obstacle, your souls can enter reincarnation and be reborn as humans. In your next life, you can use this merit to attain immortality and enlightenment.

"Please enlighten me, Great Immortal!"

It cannot be said.

"You must cultivate according to the methods I have instructed, accumulating merit, only then can you attain immortality and enlightenment. Otherwise, in the face of the great calamity, your bodies will be reduced to ashes, without even a sliver of hope."

"We are very grateful for the guidance, Master!"

The three demons didn't ask any more questions. They knew that heavenly secrets couldn't be revealed. The fact that the guardian deity could guide them at this moment was because he was moved by their 'sincerity'.

Therefore, after Chonglou disappeared, the three immortals quickly renamed Sanqing Temple as Xuanzhen Temple.

At the same time, release the imprisoned monks and spread good deeds.

Ultimately, the blame should fall on the King of Chechi Kingdom, since he was the one who issued all the laws.

Now, the three demons of Tiger Power have offered their advice and released a group of monks, making them, in a way, the saviors of those monks.

All the calamities are due to the monks' incompetence in praying for rain to relieve their suffering.

Moreover, according to Zhang Xiaoshan's way of spreading Taoism, Xuanzhen Temple is not a single entity, but three entities operating in parallel, and could even spawn ten thousand entities.

Centered on Chechi Kingdom, Tiger Power Immortal, as the eldest brother, took charge of the Xuanzhen Temple in Chechi Kingdom, while the other two demons went to two neighboring countries to rebuild the Xuanzhen Temple. In this way, the three demons could benefit the three kingdoms by dividing their responsibilities and advance and retreat together.

With the addition of the Juxian Temple of the Western Liang Women's Kingdom and the Green-haired Lion of the Wuji Kingdom, they were enough to cover an area of ​​tens of thousands of miles in a short period of time.

This is the great net woven by Zhang Xiaoshan. Once Sun Wukong and his disciples step into it, it will be difficult for Chonglou not to take action.

The Xuanzhen Temple established its lineage here; once it is severed, the cause and effect are established.

···

"Namo Amitabha!"

Western Lingshan, Daleiyin Temple.

At this moment, Zhang Xiaoshan's scheme could not escape the notice of the Tathagata, who possessed the all-seeing eyes of the Three Realms.

Moreover, Buddha did not expect that Zhang Xiaoshan would knowingly walk into danger, setting up the Xuanzhen Temple's lineage on the journey to the West, and Ming Daozi told him to take action.

However, soon after, Buddha calculated with his fingers and suddenly had some understanding.

Even Zhang Xiaoshan's purpose was clearly known to Tathagata, who was immediately alarmed.

"What a fine direct descendant of the Taiqing!"

"Amitabha Buddha, why did the Buddha suddenly sigh for some reason?"

At this time, the path of the great prosperity of Buddhism was underway. Suddenly, the Tathagata sighed, and several great Bodhisattvas, including Manjushri and Samantabhadra, all showed puzzled expressions.

"Just now, the heavenly order was disrupted. Chunyangzi of the Taiqing lineage made a move to set up a route that was essential for the transmission of the Dao to Baoxiang Kingdom, Chechi Kingdom, and Xiliang Women's Kingdom!"

The Buddha did not hide anything, after all, they would have to face each other sooner or later, so it was better to be prepared.

Most importantly, Chonglou's intervention perfectly made up for the 81st tribulation. However, the completion of the tribulation is not necessarily a good thing. Chonglou used the Buddhist fortune to break through to the seventh level of the profound skill, which is the cause and effect.

It seems that Buddhism gained a great advantage, but in reality, with the seventh level of Xuan Gong, the Xuan Sect gained a top-level protector.

Whether it's a loss or a gain, nobody can say for sure.

After all, the flourishing of Buddhism is a matter of destiny, but this protector of the Xuanmen sect is an anomaly.

"Which direct descendant of the Taiqing Emperor?"

All the Bodhisattvas and Buddhas looked solemn, and they were also wary of this newly promoted direct descendant of the Xuanmen sect.

Emperor Donghua and the God of War of Jade Frontier, aren't they top figures in the Three Realms at this time, in no way inferior to them?

Especially with the intervention of a certain individual, the situation in Dongsheng Shenzhou remained as stable as Mount Tai. The Buddhist forces couldn't penetrate at all, remaining confined to Nanzhanbuzhou for 920 days while simultaneously resisting invasions from Dongsheng Shenzhou.

This shows how terrifying this person is.

Even if the rise of Buddhism is a predetermined fate, human will can overcome nature, and the influence of Xuanzhen Temple is a manifestation of human will.

"Please, Buddha, guide your disciple!"

"With this great flourishing of Buddhism, Jin Chanzi will have to endure eighty-one tribulations."

Chunyangzi foresaw that the calamity was not yet over, so he sent the Jade Frontier War God to cause this tribulation, while simultaneously using this Buddhist fortune to break through to the seventh level of his profound cultivation.

"Use our hands to break through to the seventh level of the profound skill?"

Does this brat think we are the Ten Great Demon Kings? He actually dares to plot against us!

Several hot-tempered Arhats frowned immediately. Their true strength was in no way inferior to those first-class demon kings, and the two Arhats who subdued dragons and tigers were even comparable to top-tier demon kings.

In addition, the four great bodhisattvas are all great venerable ones, and behind them are the seven ancient Buddhas. How could a newly promoted upstart possibly outmaneuver them?

"You should not underestimate this Venerable Chunyang."

"Even Guanyin Bodhisattva couldn't have foreseen that our Buddhist sect's tribulations were not yet complete. And with the tribulations resolved, our Buddhist sect will flourish greatly; as a protector of the Xuanmen (Taoist) sect, how could he possibly perform a useless act?"

Tathagata looked at the group of Buddhas and Arhats. If Chonglou had broken through to the seventh level of the profound skill through the tempering of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Arhats, he wouldn't be so solemn.

The tribulation was successfully resolved, and Buddhism flourished, which was fundamental to the development of Buddhism.

Chapter 146 Hard Knife vs. Soft Knife

"Master, are you going to take action personally?"

Inside the newly built Xuanzhen Temple in Baoxiang Kingdom, the Six-Eared Macaque looked at the young Sword Master with a puzzled expression.

Spreading the Dao to Xiniu Hezhou is tantamount to slapping the face of Buddhism to its face. You must know that Xuanzhen Temple now represents the orthodox Xuanmen sect. Liu Er Mihou does not understand why Zhang Xiaoshan wants to escalate the conflict.

The young swordsman, of course, did not hide anything. Looking at the Xuanzhen Temple, which was under renovation, he slowly explained:

"You know that five hundred years ago, the Jade Frontier War God Chonglou broke through to the peak of the sixth level of the Profound Technique."

Over the past five hundred years, Chonglou has stabilized his cultivation level and is only one step away from breaking through to the seventh level. This step is extremely difficult, requiring not only accumulation of knowledge, but also resources, comprehension, luck, and opportunity.

In terms of resources, I have no shortage of them, and even in terms of comprehension and merit!

Only by chance, or without a great opportunity, this step could trap the God of War of Jade Frontier for at least a thousand or even ten thousand years. No one can predict when the next opportunity will come, or whether it will be suitable.

The opportunity I have seized this time is a chance for the great revival of Buddhism.

"But Master, doesn't the flourishing of Buddhism benefit Buddhism?"

"When things reach their extremes, they reverse; when evil rises, good declines!"

The young swordsman left behind an eight-character cryptic saying, which the Six-Eared Macaque was left to ponder on his own.

A breakthrough in World War I?

Neither Zhang Xiaoshan nor Chonglou had ever imagined it would be so simple.

After all, the seventh level of Xuan Gong is a qualitative change. Once you break through, you are comparable to the peak of Da Luo, and can be compared to the existence of Da Tian Zun or Tathagata.

Therefore, Zhang Xiaoshan knew that if he wanted to use someone else's resources to generate wealth, the price would be absolutely high.

However, compared to the potential gains, Zhang Xiaoshan was willing to give up some benefits in exchange for what he needed.

···

"Master, what a magnificent city lies ahead!"

On this day, Sun Wukong and his companions arrived in Chechi Kingdom, three years later.

We traveled a long and arduous journey, covered in dust and grime.

At this time, Chechi Kingdom didn't need Tiger Power Immortal to suppress the Buddhist disciples. Over the years, with the rise of Xuanzhen Temple, Buddhism had long been suppressed to the point of being unable to breathe.

In the original story, when Sun Wukong arrived, only five hundred of the thousands of Buddhist disciples had been brutally murdered.

At this time, under the pressure from Xuanzhen Temple, the thousands of disciples numbered less than a hundred, and most of them were skin and bones, dressed in rags, looking extremely disheveled.

A soft knife kills without drawing blood!

If the original monks are imprisoned, they won't even have the chance to return to secular life; they will be directly labeled as monks.

The king had already grown tired of the Buddhist sect because their prayers for rain were unsuccessful.

As the Xuanzhen Temple gradually rose to prominence, it vigorously practiced the Buddhist practice of 'giving,' reclaiming wasteland, adopting orphans, and providing free medical consultations...

Gradually, Buddhist believers began to convert to Taoism.

After all, the Taoist sect not only did not need their offerings, but also distributed the surplus grain they cultivated each year to the poor. Over time, the incense at Xuanzhen Temple became increasingly prosperous.

On the contrary, Buddhist sects have a large number of disciples who eat and drink for free and only know how to eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist scriptures. Without the offerings of believers, even eating and drinking have become problems.

Don’t be afraid of not knowing the goods, be afraid of comparing goods!

Inside the Xuanzhen Temple, the Tiger Power Immortal can summon wind and rain, ensuring favorable weather and abundant harvests for the Chechi Kingdom; his disciples cultivate wasteland to achieve self-sufficiency; he even provides free medical consultations and medicine to save lives…

In less than a year, the number of Buddhist believers had dwindled to almost nothing.

Without the support of the believers, the monks ran out of money in just a few months, and many disciples began to flee the temple.

In the end, only a core group of less than 100 people survived by begging for alms.

After Sun Wukong and his companions entered the city, the first thing they saw was a bustling and prosperous street where the people were well-off and their faces were filled with happy smiles.

For a moment, even Tang Sanzang couldn't help but marvel at the prosperity and happiness index here.

Jiyuan Temple!

This was the only temple in Chechi Kingdom at that time, and it housed the statue of the first ruler of Chechi Kingdom.

Therefore, the Kingdom of Chechi allocates some gold and silver every year to maintain and repair the statues of gods, and also to support the monks in the temple.

However, with the rise of Xuanzhen Temple, Zhiyuan Temple's annual allowance has been decreasing. If it weren't for the ancestral statues enshrined here, King Chechi would have stopped paying for it three years ago.

At this time, only a group of old monks remained in Zhiyuan Temple, barely clinging to life.

Joining Buddhism?

At this time, all the young men with even a little talent joined the Xuanzhen Temple.

Moreover, even without joining the Xuanzhen Temple, one can still enter to learn methods of strengthening the body, traditional Chinese medicine, and the essence of Confucianism...

"Master, this place is so desolate, it doesn't resemble a Buddhist holy site at all."

Looking at the overgrown weeds on the courtyard wall and the steps covered with fallen leaves, Sun Wukong could see no trace of a sacred Buddhist site, only desolation and decay.

"Master, I'll go knock on the door!"

Clang! Clang! Clang...

After knocking on the heavy door knocker, Sun Wukong finally heard footsteps after a long while.

"They're here! They're here..."

As the mountain gate opened, the novice monk was startled to see the strange group of master and disciples before him.

Fortunately, Tang Sanzang had a dignified and imposing appearance, which calmed the young novice's fear. He then spoke:

“Amitabha Buddha, this humble monk Xuanzang greets the young master.”

Xuanzang came from the Tang Dynasty in the East, ordered by the Tang Emperor to travel to the Great Thunderclap Temple in the West to seek Mahayana Buddhist scriptures. He stopped by the temple to ask for lodging for the night.

A holy monk from the Tang Dynasty?

The novice monk was stunned upon hearing this, then immediately ran back to the main hall to inform the abbot.

Soon, several elderly monks, led by a group of Buddhist disciples, arrived at the gate, trembling, to respectfully welcome the holy monk from the Tang Dynasty.

Apart from a few old monks wearing robes, everyone else was dressed in patched clothes and looked extremely weary. This left Tang Sanzang and his companions looking at each other in bewilderment.

From the outside, they could tell that although Zhiyuan Temple looked large, it was actually in dire straits.

But I never imagined that we would be so destitute that we didn't even have a single decent piece of clothing.

"Amitabha! This humble monk, Tang Xuanzang, greets all the elders!"

"Namo Amitabha Buddha, we have met the Holy Monk!"

Seeing Tang Sanzang wearing a Vairocana hat, a brocade cassock, and carrying a nine-piece staff—dressed like a high-ranking Buddhist monk—the monks of Zhiyuan Temple seemed to have seen a savior.

Over the years, they have been oppressed to the point of suffocation. If it weren't for the king's mercy in providing some subsidies to keep them fed, they would have starved to death long ago.

"Venerable elders, this humble monk (Nuo Le) has traveled a long way and seen that the people of Chechi Kingdom live in prosperity and peace. Why is this place so desolate?"

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.

Leaving aside the matter of praying for rain, just looking at what Xuanzhen Temple has done over the years, they know that their defeat was not unjust.